The most notable thing about Madison Square Park (at least for me) is that it's the location of the original Shake Shack. Besides that, I never paid much mind to the park, especially in light of the fact that it's not in my stomping grounds. Nevertheless, I had just finished brunching nearby and since it was such a gorgeous day out, I decided to take a walk through the park and check it out. MSP is not large - the center of it is a large green space with paths on the perimeter that contain walking paths and benches. In addition to the Shake Shack, there's also a small seating area nearby where you can sit and eat, or just hang out. The park is ideal of people watching, eating your lunch, or just walking around a space that contrasts the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas. Because of the weather, it was a little crowded but still pleasant. Overall, MSP is fine - it's not worth coming to unless you're in the area IMO, but a pleasant spot nonetheless. read more

A small yet simple park in NYC. Madison Square Park is located in a nice area. Inside the park there is a few green spaces. The foliage was beautiful. You really feel like you are somewhere else for a little while inside the park. The trees act like a sound barrier fro the everyday hustle that is NYC. There is also a pretty good amount of seating especially around the fountain. The fountain adds a great sensory element to the park. There is a cute dog area with hills. Overall this is a great spot to find some shade and rest and reset before heading onto your next adventure. Located around the park is beautiful architecture, businesses, eateries and various stores. It's clean. read more

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Madison Square Park is a small city park in Flatiron/Nomad. It has a dog run, a playground, and a large grassy area - making it a great park for locals who live in the neighborhood. It also hosts some public art exhibits, like one in the park through March 29, 2026 - Larry Bell: "Improvisations in the Park." My husband and I walked through the park a couple of times when we stayed in the neighborhood this past weekend. We spent our time walking through the park on one occasion to see the works included in the Larry Bell exhibit. Overall, a fine park for a walk through as a tourist, but probably more of a park for locals to enjoy the outdoors, dog run, and playground. In warmer weather, it's a nice park to sit and enjoy the sunshine or even grab lunch (from the Shake Shack in the park). read more

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Beautiful park with lots of events and art. It's always busy, even in the rain lots of people like to stop by here. There's a shake shack and seating in the park making it welcoming read more

Such a nice park in the middle of Manhattan. Located right in between Fifth Ave and Madison from 23rd to 26th street. It's a little oasis with greenery, benches and tables for sitting. Plenty of open space for a blanket and a picnic. The weekend I was in town there was a Jazz festival and you could hear the music as you walked through. On the 23rd street exit you have a perfect view of the Flatiron building and some good shopping up and down Fifth. read more

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Bryant what? Central who? Washington Square, why when you can go to Madison Square Park. I keed about the other parks. I actually love all of them for different reasons. But Madison Square will always be my favorite. It's kept fairly clean and is a nice size. Mostly for the working professionals and students in the area, it's an awesome spot to eat lunch, with a great food selection in Flat Iron. It's home to the OG Shake Shack, which stands there til this day. There is also an awesome dog park there. This park is great at all times of the year, so don't hesitate to go now. read more

At the cross section of 23rd and Broadway, Madison square park is a popular spot among tourists and locals. It is surrounded by buildings, and has the Nomad public area right next to it. The park has lots of pathway, historical statues, a pond, children's play area. Lots of good restaurants and shopping stores available around the park. Very popular among dog owners because it has a massive dog park. In the hours so many dogs play in the park. The first Shake shack store is also inside this park. This brings in a lot of crowd to this park around lunch and dinner time. There are plenty of sitting area in the park, with chairs, tables, benches. A lot of people come to the park during lunch hours who work nearby. The park had a recent renovation, looks much better since then. Still there are some odd spots that are dirty in the park. read more

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Madison Square Park is one of New York's best small parks. Located in the Flatiron district, it's a perfect place to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee. There are several great restaurants and stores located nearby -- Eataly, Rizzoli bookstore, Shake Shack and Eleven Madison Park - to name a few. There's also a playground, subway station and metered street parking in the area, so it's relatively easy to access via car or public transportation. read more

Great park to relax or people watch in all seasons. This is my go to location for Shake Shack. I definitely make a stop here if I am close by or before catching the bus back to Brooklyn. read more

Nice sized park in NYC. The flatiron building is within direct view of the park. Between East 26th and East 23rd. Within walking distance of all the shops in the Flatiron district like Lego and Harry Potter. We enjoyed the green space and would recommend after a long day of walking around the city. read more

Madison Square Park - Flatiron - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

Forget Madison Square Garden...the real garden is in this lovely neighborhood park, with lots of lawn space, trees, lots of seating and a super cute fog park...fun for all ages and breeds! read more

Good place to rest the feet after walking blocks after blocks. This park is in a very central location as well.

Another decent park in New York. We were cutting through the area and saw the Flatiron building so grabbed a seat to just enjoy the sights. There's quite a bit of seating around here. I'm not sure if it's like that year round though. Lots of green space here. We saw a lot of people walking their dogs to this park, so it's a great spot for pup watching! There's a lot of shops. restaurant, coffee available around here so you can def grab something and come sit here. A more important note is that there is a Shake Shack here! I've never not seen a line at this Shake Shack so plan your order ahead of time so you don't have post order regrets. You get a great view of the Flatiron building as well. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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Madison Square Park is located near the Flatiron Building area in Manhattan. Although relatively small, it is a beautifully maintained space in the midst of the concrete jungle of NYC. Located on the grounds is a dog park, several statues, The Fountain, and one interesting sculpture. It's a fantastic place to just have a seat on a bench, take in the weather, and do some people watching. Interestingly enough, there is a Shake Shack in the park also. lol For all the busy craziness going on mere feet away, Madison Square Park is a fantastic place to just casually stroll around or to have a seat and just take everything in! 4 solid stars! read more

Madison Square Park - interesting artwork - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

Madison Square Park is beautiful both in the day and at night. There's a Shake Shack located inside of the park. The food was good on a nice NY summer day but the service was a bit slow over the weekend. But, worth the wait! The park is quiet and central. The center has musicians playing and people sitting on benches that form a circle. The outer section is lined with a dog area divided into a small dog park and doggie play area. It was fun to watch the NY dogs play in the August sun. Some of the larger dogs were basking in the stream of water while others played chase. It was a great day and fun time to visit the park! Fun fact: this dog park is in the SATC episode where Charlotte's dog Elizabeth Taylor made a new friend. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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PUBLIC PARK: A Park established in 1847 honoring JAMES MADISON the fourth President of the UNITED STATES (1809-1817). The fast casual Restaurant chain SHAKE SHACK has its origins in the Park starting out as a Hot Dog Cart (2001) before expanding its Menu then becoming a Kiosk Restaurant (2004). Once had a Summer job in the area in the shadow of the MET LIFE TOWER. The first MSG was originally located in the neighborhood. WORTH VISITING. read more

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This is one of the more smaller parks in NYC. I do love coming to this one though as it usually has some sort of free Art in it. It also has a small dog play area within it. There is also a shake shack within this park so, In nice weather they set up many tables and chairs so people can enjoy the weather and their food. read more

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Madison Square Park is one of my favorite parks to people watch at! I like to visit Madison Square Park because the lush greenery is always a nice escape from the concrete jungle. Since it's in the middle of a busy area, there's always people at the parking, either walking through, taking a lunch break, or just zoning out. There are plenty of benches and tables to sit at and it's very well maintained. There's a dog park so it's always fun to catch glimpses of dogs running around. On a nice spring or summer day, there's typically a band playing live music. The vibes are great and I thoroughly enjoy coming to the park whenever I want to be still and people watch in the middle of the hustle and bustle. read more

This is a really underrated park in the Flatiron District. One of my favorite places to kick back and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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Madison Square Park is a sweet little escape from the concrete jungle that is Manhattan. I love walking through this park for an alternative route while walking through the area. I dropped by recently for their free Christmas Tree lighting which was quite crowded with families and kids this year. There was also a raffle and some sponsor booths with free treats! I had a ton of fun attending their lighting event, although I do wish they actually started on time rather than 15 minutes after the projected start time. They also had some wonderful Christmas carolers after the tree was lit. Great programming and location - drop by if you need a break from the building cityscape! FYI, you will find a Shake Shack in this park if you are also craving a burger fix. read more

Madison Square Park - Awesome decor at Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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Well- whoever thought it was a good idea to paint the children's park in the color of concrete should be given esthetic lessons and then be told to go play in the street as that's what it feels like. The playground used to be painted in a gorgeous brown that made you feel closer to the beautiful nature surrounding you. It was unique, harmonious, artistic and soothing. Now the kids play on literal concrete jungle gyms. It's horrible. It assaults the senses. It offends our humanity. It's just plain ugly. It contradicts the color scheme. Bring back brown!!! read more

Madison Square Park is an absolute gem. It's located in an area of Manhattan that otherwise could be described as a bit of a park desert. It's beautifully maintained and landscaped. Got kids? There's a playground. Got dogs? There's a dog run. Hungry? There's a literal Shake Shack in the park. Feel like stretching out? There are lawns open all throughout the park, weather depending. There are often free events and music. Pro-tip: go to Madisonsquarepark.org to check the status of each lawn. I do wish there were bathrooms located within the park. read more

How could you not absolutely love this beautiful park?!? Every time I walk by Flatiron, I have to take a stroll through this gorgeous oasis. The park is absolutely beautiful and filled with the most interesting people. One of my favorite things to do is just sit down and people watch everyone that walks by. I'm just so stunned at the variety of different kinds of people that come through here - you have the busy workers rushing off to work, the dog moms/dads, fitness buffs that just want to go for runs, etc... IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC read more

Always a fav among tourists, dogs, pups and kids of all ages. Opens at 6am and closes at midnight. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

Nice big community park right in the center of Manhattan NYC - Flatiron district. The park is quite big and it has many chairs and tables located near Shake Shack (first location). There is a subway entrance (23 street station) at this park. It is very convenient and easy to get to. Great place to be if you want a great photo of the famous Flatiron building. Nice place to go for a quick stroll. read more

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Such a great little park to visit, especially in the summer. It's just big enough that it doesn't get too overcrowded, but if you're planning to come in the summer for Shake Shack (which you should absolutely do, it's an experience) plan on waiting a bit for your meal. I've been to a ton of fun pop ups here, as well as live music. There are so many great restaurants nearby that fill up when the weather gets nice, so if you need to kill time this is a great spot to do it. It's dog friendly here and so fun to watch the dogs have a fun day out at the park. There are plenty of benches here, but if you want to be sure you have a spot bring a blanket along and hang out on the lawn picnic style. read more

Another New York park worth spending some time in. It is real close to Chelsea and not far off 5th Avenue. The original Shake Shack is located here. The R and W station. Lots of people hang out. Real enjoyable when the weather gets pretty. The High Line is nearby. This park is plenty safe, no need to fear. The playground for kids, benches for adults. No, it is not Central Park. Pigeons are quite aggressive. Okay, enough of the insults. Before you know it, it is time to go home. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

My first time here and it is easily my favorite park in the city! April is definitely the time to go since everything is blooming and beautiful. I will definitely be back to enjoy the nice shake shack they have in the park and just watch all the cute dogs that walk on by. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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This has drastically changed. Seems the majority is a dog park. It was late evening so in the dark hard to see. Will see what it looks like in the spring. read more

This park is next to the Flatiron Building in the middle of New York. It's another one of the many parks that allow for great people watching and sitting around to rest after walking around the city. There's also a small dog park if you have furry friends to let play and run around. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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I love this park! Central Park understandably gets all the hype in NYC because it is so big and sprawling, but there are lots of smaller gems sprinkled throughout the city that are less overwhelming and definitely worth checking out. Madison Square Park has a ton of seating. There are benches everywhere, as well as tables and chairs. They have a dog park which seemed to be split into two so that large dogs are separate from small dogs. They also have a playground for kids. There is a large fountain in the center. It wasn't turned on when I went at the beginning of May so kids were also using it as a play space. This park is great for people watching. It was packed on a sunny Sunday afternoon but it didn't feel too loud or noisy. I was doing some writing and was able to stay focused despite the hustle and bustle. read more

This is easily one of my favorite parks in the city. While you won't see anyone throwing frisbee or biking trails here like other parks in New York, what do you find are a great combination of locals, folks who work in the nearby offices, and super happy tourists who are simply excited to here. As with most of us New Yorkers, I have often taken such spaces for granted in the past. Which is a shame because people come from all over the world just be here. Lately, whenever I see a visitor posing for photo for a selfie with the Flatiron building as a backdrop, I stop for a second (mentally that is as my feet usually keeping going so I'm not late for work) to appreciate the fact that I get to come here every week. The park is very well cared-for, both by the people who walk through it and also by the city workers (big ups to them!). You won't see trash lying on the ground, aside from the random table at Shake Shack, which gets cleaned up pretty quickly. Speaking of Shake Shack, how cool is that they have a location right in this park. The lines often get pretty long from noon to about 1:30pm, so if you're in the mood for it, avoid those times. There is often events going on that put on by local organizations in collaboration with the city and there is also a ton of bench seating all around the perimeter... perfect for eating lunch or just people or dog watching. There's an awesome little dog park on the most west end of the park along 5th ave. For a few years, I had a desk overlooking said dog park and during stressful moments, took short breaks to watch lively action below. Speaking of animals, I find it both hilarious and pretty interesting when I come here and see tourists in awe of squirrels. Admittingly, in my dumb youth, I once teased a squirrel here with a granola bar by offering it and pulling back slightly (I was going to give it to him but wanted him to earn it). I turned my head to a group of giggling tourists who were watching and as I looked back, the squirrel decided playtime was over and had jumped on my shoulder. I got startled, the squirrel ate the granola bar which fell to the ground, and the tourists laughed even more. I couldn't help but laugh myself so it was a win-win-win. The lesson of this random story is that Madison Square Park is a great place to enjoy, check it out whether you're a local or just visiting! read more

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The place here is ok. It's not far from where I live, 23rd and Broadway. I come here quite often to get away from things. I was harassed by a homeless person though, which bothered me. I feel the city needs to focus more on situations like this so that they don't escalate into soemthing worse. It's near a lot of shopping stores, a few other things. I normally love the place. read more

This is a nice park downtown. A lot has changed . They have a lot of young trees planted and it makes the park look surreal. They also have hydrangeas all over- it is simply gorgeous. I love that there is a dog park- super cool. Don't love the fact that there is a Shake Shack there- line is always too long! I had to go across the street to McDonald's to get an iced coffee! Do love that there is music there. Don't love that people leave their food on the benches as if someone else should clean up after them! Grow up people! Nice oasis however. And chairs to sit on to take a break from walking! read more

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A bit of a boring park. Shake shack just opened there so that brought the crowd and a new sculpture is bringing some curiosity. Otherwise there is nothing there besides a dog park that reeks of dog pee inside and all around it. I wonder how often they wash that fake grass. read more

Next to the flat iron building a small park that your able to walk in and see different art pieces. Plenty of benches to also just sit and catch up with a friend. I did enjoy this small park. Since seeing the Flat Iron you might as well just come in for a stroll and then head to your next destination. Tons of people are walking around and also sitting. So it's just a chill place to come and relax if your out of things to do. This stop probably could be a very quick encounter or you can drag it on by just taking it all in. It's up to you to choose what you like and how to enjoy it. read more

Madison Square Park - Plenty of people here - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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This is such a cool little park in the Flatiron district. It's a great place to chill, for lunch, if you work in the area. There are plenty of benches and seating available. I loved this little park, maybe I'm a little biased because I used to work on this block for years. One of the cool features of this park is it's the home of the original Shake Shack which is still there. Great place to eat your burger. And if you don't want Shake Shack there are plenty of other eateries on the block to choose from. Grab something at the other eateries, and eat in the park. There is a nice little fountain, great for an Instagram shot! Definitely a great place for a nice day or night out when the weather is good. read more

Madison Square Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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So I had to come here, as my daughters name is Madison - so go figure. A peaceful little park right smack bang in busy bustling Manhattan, so definitely worthy of a little look! Madison Square is a public square formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The square was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States read more

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I've been to this park on many occasions over the years. It's a great place for me to sit to rest during my long walks in Manhattan. I often carry my lunch with me in Spring and Summer. I find a bench and eat. I do have to watch that the squirrels don't jump in my lap. They are very bold in NYC! It's not a large park so don't worry about getting lost. Check out the fountain and statues. The different seasons bring different landscaping. You can eat at Shake Shack. The line gets long so if you need to be elsewhere give yourself plenty of time. The park is not without it's problems. At times there's homeless hanging around. I've never seen anything too disturbing. If you're lucky there may be an event when you go. I've seen some great art exhibits at the park. I'm posting my photos. I thought I had been checking in when I visit the park. I haven't been there in a while. I definitely look forward to warmer weather so I can return. There's lots of great buildings, food, and shopping in this neighborhood. Plus a lot of history. I hope you enjoy if you live, work, or visit NYC. I'm a big fan of Parks. That's where I can get away from the traffic briefly. read more

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It's so neat to see how a wee sliver of a hustling city can be turned into a peaceful oasis that is bustling with leisurely offerings like park benches, a kids playground, water fountain, gardens, soft stone table and chairs area along with a ShakeShack in the heart of it all. I have to admit that I was thrown off by a big brand like ShakeShack having a spot in the public part but the the vibe of the cafe lights and seating helped bring back the communal vibe. This park is heavily shaded with gorgeous trees and walkways that wind through it. During my brief visit, I noticed there were signs promoting an upcoming leaf discussion which made me think programming is common in this park for such a specific discussion to take place . Overall, this is a great spot to catch your breath from the hustle of the taxis and dodging cars at crosswalks. read more

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